Avasimibe can cooperate with a DC-targeting and integration-deficient lentivector to induce stronger HBV specific T cytotoxic response by regulating cholesterol metabolism.

We have reported a lentivector which could effectively induce HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Avasimibe is an inhibitor of acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase-1 (ACAT1), and has been shown to enhance T lymphocyte cytotoxicity on tumor cells. However, the role of avasimibe in lentivector-induced HBV-specific T cytotoxic response remains unknown.

Exosomes loading Tapasin enhance T cell immune response by autophagy to inhibit HBV replication.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) specific T cell immune response plays a vital role in viral clearance. Dendritic cell derived exosomes (Dexs) can activate T cell immunity effectively. Tapasin (TPN) is involved in antigen processing and specific immune recognition.

Evaluation of the metagenomic next-generation sequencing performance in pathogenic detection in patients with spinal infection.

Spinal infection is a rarely occurred pathology, whose diagnosis remains a major challenge due to the low sensitivity of culturing techniques. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a novel approach to identify the pathogenic organisms in infectious diseases. In this study, mNGS technology was adopted for pathogenic detection in spinal infection from the tissue and pus samples.

Collagen XV mediated the epithelial-mesenchymal transition to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant cancer with rapid progression, vascular invasion, a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis, so it is necessary to take early measures to halt this process. Accumulating evidence indicates that collagen XV (translated by Col15a1) is a basement membrane molecule related to tumour metastasis in several organs. However, the potential function of collagen XV in the liver associated with HCC remains to be further elucidated.

Role of Autophagy in the Ubiquitinated Hepatitis B Virus Core Antigen Enhancing Dendritic Cell Function.

Dendritic cells (DCs), as the most powerful antigen-presenting cells, play a key role in the adaptive immune response, while the defective function of DC is an important factor in immune tolerance to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) is a highly antigenic protein that can induce a strong antigen-specific immune response against HBV. In this study, we first constructed the ubiquitinated HBcAg gene (UbHBcAg), and then utilized a recombinant lentiviral vector UbHBcAg (LV-UbHBcAg) to explore the role of them in DC autophagy and function.

Astragalus polysaccharide alleviated hepatocyte senescence via autophagy pathway.

Aging is characterized by inevitable organ function decline over time, with consequent body deterioration and increased susceptibility to death. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has been reported to have anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the potential protective effects of APS on hydrogen peroxide (H O ) induced hepatocyte senescence and identified related mechanisms in L02, Huh7, and LM3 cell lines.

Ubiquitinated Hepatitis D Antigen-Loaded Microvesicles Induce a Potent Specific Cellular Immune Response to Inhibit HDV Replication in Vivo.

Hepatitis D is the most severe form of human viral hepatitis and currently lacks an efficient therapy. Dendritic cell-derived exosomes (Dexs) have been found to induce immune responses capable of eliminating viruses. However, the therapeutic potential of antigen-loaded exosomes in hepatitis D is still unknown.

Molecular epidemiology and clinical characteristics of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infected patients with elevated transaminases in Shanghai, China.

Background: Patients coinfected with HBV and hepatitis D virus (HDV) have a greater risk of HCC and cirrhosis. The current study was undertaken to assess HDV genotype distribution and determine clinical characteristics of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) among HBsAg positive individuals in Shanghai.

Method: This retrospective study involved 225 serum samples from HBsAg positive hospitalized patients from October 2010 to April 2013.

HOXA10 knockdown inhibits proliferation, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through HDAC1.

Background: Homeobox A10 (HOXA10) has been implicated in the development and progression of various human cancers. However, the precise biological functions of HOXA10 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been defined.

Methods: In this study, we examined mRNA expression by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) of HOXA10 as well as histone deacetylase (HDAC) and protein levels by Western blot of HOXA10, HDAC1, Cyclin D1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Survivin and p53 acetylation in HCC tissues and cell lines.

Plumbagin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma by downregulating the expression of SIVA.

Plumbagin is thought to be a bioactive phytochemical drug and exerts an antitumor effect on various cancers. However, few studies focus on the antitumor activity of plumbagin on liver cancer. This study first investigated the antitumor activity of plumbagin on liver cancer and further investigated the molecular mechanism of its antitumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma, both in vitro and in vivo.

Tripartite motif-containing protein 7 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation via the DUSP6/p38 pathway.

Tripartite motif-containing protein 7 (TRIM7), which is involved in the biosynthesis of glycogen, has been reported to drive lung tumorigenesis. In the present study, we aimed to examine the expression, roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of TRIM7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining were performed to test the expression of TRIM7 in HCC tissues.

Immunization with lentiviral vector‑modified dendritic cells encoding ubiquitinated hepatitis B core antigen promotes Th1 differentiation and antiviral immunity by enhancing p38 MAPK and JNK activation in HBV transgenic mice.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem. T helper (Th)1‑associated cytokines are involved in HBV clearance during acute and persistent infection. In our previous study, it was demonstrated that lentiviral vectors encoding ubiquitinated hepatitis B core antigen (LV‑Ub‑HBcAg) effectively transduced dendritic cells (DCs) to induce maturation, which promoted T cell polarization to Th1 and generated HBcAg‑specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) ex vivo.

An Engineered DC-Targeting Lentivector Induces Robust T Cell Responses and Inhibits HBV Replication in HBV Transgenic Mice via Upregulating T Cell Autophagy.

Background/aims: Developing engineered dendritic cell (DC)-targeting lentivectors (LVs) have been the target of intense research for their potential to create antigen-directed immunotherapeutics which can be safely administered to patients. In this study, we constructed a DC-directed LV (LVDC-UbHBcAg-LIGHT) as a potential vaccine to induce anti-HBV immune responses.

Methods: Specificity of LVDC-UbHBcAg-LIGHT for DCs in vivo was confirmed through live animal imaging studies.

An engineered novel lentivector specifically transducing dendritic cells and eliciting robust HBV-specific CTL response by upregulating autophagy in T cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a predominant role in initiating cell immune responses. Here we generated a DC-targeting lentiviral vector (LVDC-UbHBcAg-LIGHT) and evaluated its capacity to elicit HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. DC-SIGN-mediated specific transduction using this construct was confirmed in DC-SIGN-expressing 293T cells and ex vivo-cultured bone marrow cells.

TRIM52 up-regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells promotes proliferation, migration and invasion through the ubiquitination of PPM1A.

Background: Many tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins have been reported to be of great importance in the initiation and progression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the biological role and regulatory mechanism of tripartite motif containing 52 (TRIM52) in HCC development and progression are poorly defined.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or Western blot analysis was used to detect TRIM52, p21, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), protein phosphatase, Mg/Mn dependent 1A (PPM1A), p-Smad2/3 and Smad2/3 levels in HCC tissues and cell lines.

Cyclospora cayetanensis infections among diarrheal outpatients in Shanghai: a retrospective case study.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a foodborne and waterborne pathogen that causes endemic and epidemic human diarrhea worldwide. A few epidemiological studies regarding C. cayetanensis infections in China have been conducted.

Delivery of Tapasin-modified CTL epitope peptide via cytoplasmic transduction peptide induces CTLs by JAK/STAT signaling pathway in vivo.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a vital role in viral control and clearance. Recent studies have elucidated that Tapasin, an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, is a well-known molecule that appears to be essential in peptide-loading process. The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway plays an important role in immune response regulation and cytokines secretion.

Diverse Changes of Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Levels in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Diseases.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a stress-induced hormone in the liver, has been shown the protective functions in pathological conditions. The study investigated the association of circulating FGF21 with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its related diseases. Serum FGF21 levels were measured in 33 acute hepatitis B (AHB), 75 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 66 CHB patients with advanced liver diseases including liver cirrhosis, acute-on-chronic liver failure (ALCF) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) together with 200 age- and BMI-matched healthy controls.

Tripartite Motif Containing 52 (TRIM52) Promotes Cell Proliferation in Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV X protein (HBx) plays a crucial role in the development of HCC. Moreover, many tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins exert diverse biological functions in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Role of tripeptidyl peptidase II in MHC class I antigen presentation: Biological characteristics, cellular crosstalk and signaling.

Tripeptidyl peptidase II (TPPII) is a multifunctional cytoplasmic serine protease. The main function of TPPII is to cleave proteasome-generated peptides into tripeptides, which can then be further degraded into free amino acids. Recent evidence suggests that TPPII plays an important role in epitope generation, but the mechanisms of TPPII in MHC class I antigen presentation remain unclear.

Correlation between low tapasin expression and impaired CD8+ T‑cell function in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Recent studies have demonstrated that chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with reduced antigen‑presenting capacity and insufficient cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) production. The molecular chaperone tapasin mediates binding of the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP), and has an important role in endogenous antigen processing and presentation, and the induction of specific CTL responses. The present study aimed to determine whether tapasin is associated with chronic HBV (CHB) infection.